Containers for banknotes and the like

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a container for storing banknotes, or the like, comprising a reception chamber for receiving one or more notes to be stored, a storage chamber for storing such notes, means forming a constriction between the reception and storage chambers of width less than that of the smallest note to be handled, and a plunger for forcing a note or notes in the reception chamber through the constriction whereby it or they are caused to bow in passing through the constriction into the storage chamber, the arrangement being such that on passing beyond the constriction and into the storage chamber the note or notes are permitted to straighten out to restrict their return through the constriction when the plunger is subsequently retracted.



1. A container for storing substantially planar, resilient articles comprising means defining a reception chamber for receiving articles to be stored, means defining a storage chamber for storing such articles, means forming a constriction between the reception and storage chambers of width less than that of the smallest article to be handled, and a plunger means for forcing an article in the reception chamber through the constriction whereby it is caused to bow in passing through the constriction into the storage chamber, the arrangement being such that on passing beyond the constriction and into the storage chamber the article is permitted to straighten out to restrict its return through the constriction when the plunger is subsequently retracted.
 2. A container according to claim 1 in which the constriction is in the form of a funnel of frusto-conical cross-section which tapers inwardly towards the storage chamber and defines an opening of uniform width which connects said reception and storage chambers.
 3. A container according to claim 2 comprising a hollow box having a base, opposed end walls, a pair of opposed parallel side walls and a lid, said means forming the constriction dividing the interior of the box into said reception and stoRage chambers which communicate by way of said opening.
 4. A container according to claim 3 in which said means forming the constriction comprises a pair of plates which extend inwardly of said side walls respectively and at equal angles thereto, the inner edges of said plates defining said opening.
 5. A container according to claim 1 in which the plunger means comprises an abutment member adapted to be displaced, from an unoperated position within the reception chamber, through the constriction and into the storage chamber for forcing said articles supplied to the reception chamber into the storage chamber.
 6. A container according to claim 5 in which said displacement of the abutment member is adapted to be controlled by means of a manually rotatable knob means mounted externally of said container, the rotatable knob means being operably connected to the abutment member by a mechanical linkage.
 7. A container according to claim 6 in which said knob or means is mounted on a spindle journalled between opposed side walls of the box, said linkage comprising a lever rigidly fixed to said spindle and a further pivot carried by said lever on which the abutment member is pivotally mounted.
 8. A container according to claim 7 in which the abutment member is in the form of a substantially rectangular plate of width substantially less than the width of the constriction opening.
 9. A container according to claim 1 further comprising a resiliently biassed plate member in the storage chamber for urging said articles inserted by the plunger into the storage chamber into a position in which the last article so inserted engages a rear part of said means defining the constriction to prevent the articles returning through the constriction.
 10. A container according to claim 1 including a lockable lid, and means defining an opening in the lid communicating with the reception chamber for allowing articles to be inserted into the reception chamber.
 11. A container according to claim 10 in which the lid is detachable from the remainder of the container, a key actuated locking mechanism being provided for releasably locking the lid in its operative position.
 12. A container according to claim 11 in which the key cylinder is accessible only from the upper side of the lid.
 13. A container according to claim 10 further comprising a holder for the container adapted to be mounted beneath a horizontal support, means being provided in the container for selectably locking the container in the holder.
 14. A container according to claim 13 in which said means for locking the container to the holder is entirely independent of the means for locking the lid in its closed position.
 15. A container for storing stiff, substantially planar articles comprising means defining a reception chamber for receiving articles to be stored, means defining a storage chamber for storing said articles, means forming a constriction between the reception and storage chambers of width less than that of the smallest article to be handled, and a plunger means arranged to be displaceable through the constriction from said reception chamber into said storage chamber, said means defining the constriction being resiliently deflectable so as to allow the articles to be forced through the constriction by means of said plunger means, the arrangement being such that, on said articles passing beyond the constriction and into the storage chamber, said means defining the constriction return to their undeflected state to restrict the return of the articles therethrough when the plunger means is subsequently retracted.
 16. A container for storing substantially planar articles comprising means defining a reception chamber for receiving articles to be stored, means defining a storage chamber for storing the articles, and means defining a restricted opening between the reception chamber and the storage chamber, the reception chamber being arranged to support articles to be stored in planes substantiallY parallel to the plane of said restricted opening, and a plunger means for engaging the articles in the reception chamber and for forcing said articles through the restricted opening and into the storage chamber, the restricted opening having a dimension in one direction smaller than the dimension, in the same direction, of the articles presented thereto, the arrangement being such that the plunger means in displacing articles from the reception chamber to the storage chamber causes relative deflection between the article and the opening in the direction of the restricted dimension of the opening when the articles are being forced through the opening, the normal dimensions of the articles in the storage chamber preventing return of the articles through said opening. 